Main Cast: John Wayne, Rock Hudson, Antonio Aguilar, Roman Gabriel, Marian McCargo
Release Year: 1969
Country: US
Run Time: 119 minutes
Plot
This routine western finds Union Colonel John Henry Thomas (John Wayne) and company attacking Confederate soldiers lead by Colonel James Langdon (Rock Hudson). After a crushing defeat, Langdon torches his plantation rather than have it fall into enemy hands. A group of Southerners accept the invitation of Emperor Maximilian to join them, and Langdon heads off with a wagon train of settlers to a new land. Thomas with his adopted Indian son Blue Boy (Roman Gabriel) bring a herd of 3,000 horses across the Rio Grand for sale. The two factions meet at a Fourth of July party and relive the war through a drunken brawl. When Mexican General Rojas (Tony Aguilar) holds the Southerners hostage, Thomas orders the herd to stampede into the General's camp as ransom payment for their former enemies. Merlin Olsen plays the blacksmith Little George. Both Gabriel and Olsen were pro-football all-stars for the Los Angeles Rams. Olsen continued his acting and sports announcing after his gridiron days were over. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
Carl Anderson - Art Director, Hal Needham - Coordinator, Bill Thomas - Costume Designer, Jack Cunningham - First Assistant Director, Andrew V. McLaglen - Director, Robert L. Simpson - Editor, Hugo Montenegro - Composer (Music Score), Herbert Spencer - Composer (Music Score), Hugo Montenegro - Musical Direction/Supervision, Leo Lotito - Makeup, Dan Striepeke - Makeup, William H. Clothier - Cinematographer, Robert L. Jacks - Producer, Chester L. Bayhi - Set Designer, Walter Scott - Set Designer, L.B. Abbott - Special Effects, Art Cruickshank - Special Effects, David Dockendorf - Sound/Sound Designer, Richard Overton - Sound/Sound Designer, Hal Needham - Stunts, James Lee Barrett - Screenwriter, Stanley L. Hough - Short Story Author
After the American Civil War, Union Colonel John Henry Thomas (John Wayne) and company attacking Confederate soldiers led by Colonel James Langdon (Rock Hudson) are thrown together. After a crushing defeat, Langdon torches his plantation rather than have it fall into the hands of carpetbaggers. A group of Southerners accept the invitation of Emperor Maximilian to join them, and Langdon heads off with a wagon train of settlers to a new land. Thomas with his adopted Indian son Blue Boy (Roman Gabriel) bring a herd of 3,000 horses across the Rio Grande for sale in Durango, Mexico.
Halfway there, Blue Boy notices that the tracks of a group of bandits indicate that they are planning an ambush for another group of travelers. Blue Boy and Thomas go to warn the travelers, who turn out to be the Confederates. Together the Americans repel a group of Mexican bandits who attack the Confederate wagon train.
The two factions meet at a Fourth of July party and relive the war through a drunken brawl. They then split and go their separate ways. Meanwhile, Langdon's daughter has fallen in love with Blue Boy.
When Langdon's company reaches Mexican Republican General Rojas (Antonio Aguilar), he holds the Southerners hostage for horses. Langdon is sent to get Thomas's horses as ransom. Thomas orders the herd to stampede into the General's camp as ransom payment for their former enemies.
Merlin Olsen plays the blacksmith Little George. Both Gabriel and Olsen were pro-football all-stars for the Los Angeles Rams. Olsen continued his acting and sports announcing after his gridiron days were over[1].
